Bovine

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Bovinae
Fossil range: Miocene to Recent
water buffalo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Gray, 1821
Tribes

Bovini
Boselaphini
Strepsicerotini

The biological subfamily bovines includes a diverse group of 10 species of medium-sized to large ungulates, including domestic cattle, Bison, Water Buffalo, the Yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The evolutionary relationship between the members of the group is obscure, and their classification into loose tribes rather than formal sub-groups reflects this uncertainty. General characteristics include a cloven hoof and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having a true horn.

In most countries, bovines are used for food. Cows are eaten almost everywhere, except in most parts of India where bovines are considered sacred by most Hindus.

Contents

Systematics and Classification

Etymology

Bovine is derived from Latin bos, "ox", through Late Latin bovinus.

Bibliography

  • International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. 2003. Opinion 2027 (Case 3010). Usage of 17ΔбГ specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved. Bull.Zool.Nomencl., 60:81-84.

References

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  • This page was last modified on 14 July 2008, at 21:22.

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